Committee Minutes

MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, June 9, 1998 - 7:00 p.m.

Members present: Sande, Beyer.

1. Matter of request for change in duck drop for Annual Great
Red River Duck Race on July 4 (drop ducks from Sorlie Bridge.
Paul Lester reported there are two changes on new request, first one is moving duck drop from Point Bridge to Sorlie Bridge, and second is to carry event to 12:45 a.m. He reported the did duck drop from Point Bridge but because doing event from festival area behind the Chamber of Commerce and have finish line where people are (if drop from Point Bridge too many losses and more area to patrol); however, may have two bridges closed for same period of time as setting fireworks up on Point Bridge. He stated ducks dropped at 7:00 p.m. and takes approx. half hour+, and depends on what time fireworks company starts setting on Point Bridge); that they will try to close to a minimum. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve request and to grant variance to noise ordinance to 12:45 a.m.

Mr. Lester reported that he had his application for site authorization rejected by State of North Dakota because he signed application as lessor and will need City to sign as owner of park area. Committee suggested he contact mayor's office.

6. Matter of Chestnut Street closing in 400 block during con-
struction of Belmont (Phoenix) School.
John Thompson, traffic engineer, reported that M.A. Mortenson Construction requested using street area for construction equipment/trailers and City would like to facilitate anything they can do to make construction process in downtown area to complete construction as quickly as possible; don't have concern about the roadway; roadway being opened in three areas and filled with gravel and mounded and construction plans are to replace with granitoid type pavement patch; and Mortenson's reported that they won't be starting that portion of project until late August and to be completed in late October. He stated they met with Mortenson's two weeks ago and were not going to bring back, except complaints started increasing.

A rep. of Mortenson's (Richard Dodderwich) stated that holes in street are for utility tie-ins, and that Phoenix Elementary plans to open in August; there's been acceleration to have that project open and have children there, and intent is to open three-quarters of it, from 4th Avenue to Belmont to the alley will be completed and finished (with playground and fence), west side of project is quite detailed (round stone wall, railings and will take longer). He stated there will be new sidewalks, curb patching and utility patching and if working there and barricaded little room to drive around and quite concerned about safety, that street not be closed.
He stated they are using street as a staging area, 35 ft. from bldg. to the street curb and with new entry leave about 15 ft. and not enough room.

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Sande stated she received a number of phone calls: from Marlene Schuppert, 504 Chestnut Street; Marlene Kuntz, 615 Chestnut; 412 Chestnut, 509 Chestnut Street; B. Kramer; and one of the concerns is that people get to 5th Avenue and find street is closed and proceed up alley between Chestnut and Walnut and children living in this block; people turn around and go wrong way on Chestnut.

Mrs. Berg, 418 Chestnut Street, expressed concern about safety; and Joe Belcourt, 423 Chestnut Street, who surveyed about 70% of residents and only 2 not interested or keep street closed, concern about traffic flowing wrong way and asking that street be reopened, closed as convenience for contractor. He stated they wouldn't have problem closing for repaving/repair of the street.

There was discussion re. putting speed bump in alley to slow traffic; Mr. Thompson stated it would have to be directive from committee because of liability or road hazard in gravel. Deputy Fire Chief O'Neill assured residents they would be able to get in, etc. in emergency.

Beyer stated that there's no place for contractor to place equip-ment and they need to finish that school. It was suggested by committee that staff work with neighborhood through the summer, get better signage, esp. at 8th Ave.s., and put speed bump in alley.

Moved by Beyer and Sande to receive and file.

2. Request from The Edge to sponsor street dance in downtown on
Saturday, June 27, from 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.
Eric Boughman, 12 N. 3rd Street, presented request. It was noted that after last event had complaints from neighbors, esp. Ryan House and Dacotah Hotel and Mr. Boughman stated they would like to move location because of complaints to intersection of DeMers and N. 3rd St. - to 200 and 300 blocks of DeMers and 0 block of North 3rd Street and bands on DeMers in front of city center mall with speakers facing river, and possibly by former bike shop. Capt. MacCarthy stated they had no problem with blocking streets and would recommend 4 police officers. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve request and grant variance to noise ordinance until 12:30 a.m. Motion carried.

Capt. MacCarthy directed that they talk to Capt. Kjelstrom about arranging for officers; and committee suggested talking with health department re. food vendors.

3. Matter of residential spraying of properties.
Tim Sprague, 3451 24th Avenue S., reported that property was sprayed for lawn service; that his children were playing outside, went out to check on children and smelled vapor, that he checked with operator and owner, that there were no signs that property being sprayed, etc. He had children take clothes off and decon-

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taminated them; that he called owner of spraying company re. solutions, etc., and Hospital where checked with Poison Control in Fargo; and before having big accident, suggested having ordinance, etc. Wally Helland, health department, reported that all com-mercial applicators are certified through NDSU and regulated by the StAte Department of Agriculture and they have inspectors scattered throughout the state, one in Manvel; and worked with Ag inspectors on some of the lawn people in town and they have toll free number and health department refers those types of complaints to them and they are very expeditious in inspecting and following up with applicators who are misapplying chemicals. It was noted that lawn sprayers do put stickers in the lawn after it has been sprayed, which is a requirement of their regulations. Mr. Helland stated that they need to address this with operator who did incorrectly and State will handle upon notification; that State will give opportunity for them to cleanup act. Committee suggested that suggestion be made to State to require date and time on signage. Mr. Helland stated he will provide phone number to Mr. Sprague to contact State and give him some general information also.

4. Matter of intersection control on 24th Ave.s. and S. 29th St.
Mr. Thompson reported that response from property owners at Best and CSM Property (toy store) are not willing to make any modifications that would restrict traffic to that property; that update accident figure in last year of about 20 reportable accidents and too many, and recommended putting in four-way stop as interim measure and continue to work on either closing access or extending the median or some type of geometric change or improvement that can eliminate four-way stop in the future without decreasing safety at the intersection. He is working with Howard Swanson, city attorney, re. declaring as public nuisance.

Moved by Beyer and Sande to authorize installation of temporary four-way stop signs at this intersection.

Capt. MacCarthy requested extension of median be priority rather than four-way stop for next several years, concerned that with high traffic times of day get backup of traffic. Sande questioned if they did modifications to the median on 24th Ave. could that be considered part of the Columbia Road corridor study; Mr. Thompson stated they would have that added.

After further discussion and upon call for the question, the motion carried.

5. Matter of traffic signals at 28th Ave.S. and Columbia Road.
Mr. Thompson reported this will be studied in the corridor study, contracts signed last week to begin that study, and probably 3 to 4 months before it's done, should have result of effect of
traffic signal there or anywhere in between the half-mile spacing have now will be to drastically affect the flow of traffic on

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Columbia Road. He stated that it could be scheduled if leaning that way with CIP process this year, include some projects to install traffic signals at this location. Moved by Beyer and Sande to receive and file. Motion carried.

7. Applications for gaming permits:
a) ND Amvets Post #19 - raffle 11/11/98
c) Site Authorizations for 7/01/98 to 6/30/99:
1) Grand Forks Athletic Club & Boxing, Inc.
1826 S. Wash. St. - Rumors Lounge
2) Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau**
3500 Gateway Drive - Westward Ho
1708 Mill Road - Bun Lounge
414 Gateway Drive - Charlie Brown's Bar
1210 N. 43rd Street - Holiday Inn
There was letter attached from Office of Attorney General re. number of tables, etc. at locations and also letter from Greater Grand Forks Convention & Visitors Bureau answering the letter.

The applications had been reviewed and approved by the city attorney. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve the applications for permits. Motion carried. (comm. only)

7. b) Grand Forks Board of Realtors - raffle 7/31/98
It was noted that the city attorney disapproved application, unless group is recognized as a "public spirited" group.
The committee held this application until Monday, June 15 at 7:15 p.m.

12. b) Harley Owners Group-G.F. Chapter - raffle 7/11/98
It was noted that the city attorney disapproved, stating that this doesn't appear to be an eligible organization, possibly under "public spirited". The committee held this application until Monday, June 15 at 7:15 p.m.

8. Budget amendment:
a) Health Department - Communicable Disease - $600.
It was noted this is additional revenue from Altru for Home Safe Home kits and give to kids at certain checkup date. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve budget amendment. Motion carried.

9. Matter of substandard buildings, blighted structures and
public health hazard.
Mr. Helland reported that in accordance with the meeting on June 1, the fire, inspections and health departments were advised to compile a check list for inspecting such structures and to compile a letter to be sent to property owners, and health
department designated as lead agency to do this. He reported that they received input from fire and inspections department and made list after consulting with CDC, the State Health Department, and Metropolitan Health Department of Indianapolis and Bloomington to

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find out if they had encountered any similar situations and what they may have done on that. Based on that they compiled a list that includes fire department health and building inspections as submitted to them; that late this afternoon he received FAX from Sarah Helleckson who had compiled a list also and health department not consulted on that list and she has added some items on health related issues that do not feel they could support. He stated these are drafts, that he had concern re. several items on Mrs. Helleckson's listing (odor, mold, debris, toxic chemicals), and reviewed. Mr. Helland stated that these listings haven't been discussed by the departments and should set up meeting and get resolved and come back to committee. Deputy Chief O'Neill stated that they would like to know if evidence of anyone living in houses in case of emergencies. It was noted that these wouldn't cover houses in the buyout area, and Sande stated this checklist is for houses that have been abandoned.

Mr. Helland asked if proposed letter was acceptable to the property owners to get access; Committee stated yes.

Mr. Helland stated that if given access to enter houses, contacted the State Health Department and received recommendations on pro-tective and safety guidelines (hard hats, half face respirator, boots, gloves, light coveralls) and don't have funding for this, would need 3 sets of equipment. Committee suggested they check with other departments for equipment. Held for 2 weeks.

11. Request from Muddy Rivers for waiver of noise ordinance for
outdoor concert on grounds of Townhouse Motor Inn on June 28
from 12:00 noon to 11:00 p.m. and for outdoor beer garden.
Michael Bogert, general manager, Muddy Rivers, presented request. Committee asked for sketch of area where liquor held, etc. Capt. MacCarthy stated they need to submit application for special permit for sale at designated premises.

Moved by Beyer and Sande to grant waiver of noise ordinance. Motion carried.

Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve special permit for sale of alcoholic beverages at designated premises, subject to police department's review of site map. Motion carried. (comm. only)

10. Requests for block parties:
a) Reeves Drive between 8th and 9th Aves.S. on 6/20/98
b) Burdick Court between N. 47th and 48th Sts. on 6/21/98
Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve requests for block parties. Motion carried. (comm. only)

12. Applications for gaming permits:
a) Listen, Inc., - site authorizations 7/01/98-6/30/99
The application had been reviewed and approved by the city

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attorney. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve applications. Motion carried. (comm. only)

13. Other items:
Capt. MacCarthy reported that two meetings ago committee directed police department to have meeting on disposal of trash, etc. in houses, that they met with fire department, police depart-ment, sanitation department and sanitation will handle, and if they can't deal with it will call someone who can.

Chairman Sande stated that potentially this is her last public safety committee meeting, and stated it was pleasure working with everyone and thanked them very much.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

Alice Fontaine
City Clerk

Dated: 6/11/98